The Weekly Portion: Israel@60: Successes and failures

Last week was marked by the Independence Day celebrations of Israel's sixtieth birthday. The day's events were especially beautiful and moving. This day should also be a day for reflection and self-inspection.

What have we achieved in the last 60 years?

• Almost half the world's Jews have made Aliyah. At the establishment of the State, only 6% lived here. Today, almost no Jew who wishes it, does not reside in Israel.
• We've built a modern and strong economy. Israel holds the 16th spot in GDP growth and the 2nd spot, after the US, to have the most companies in the hi-tech industry trading on NASDAQ.
• Our academic, cultural, scientific, and technological industries boast great achievements and place us at a most respectable position in the world.
• We have a unique military power. Israel has the strongest military between the Caspian Sea and the Straits of Gibraltar, between Baku and Casablanca

What have we yet to achieve or where did we fail?

• The welfare state that was built in the first few decades after the founding of this country, has been destroyed, but not completely. We come in as number 16 on the GDP per capita scale, but in education we are in the 39th place. With hospital beds per person we hold the 28th slot, a sign that government distribution is not accorded correctly.
• The gap between rich and poor continues to widen while two education and health systems have been created as a result: one for the rich, one for the poor. The lack of inequality is particularly severe.
• Social and moral norms, community solidarity, the willingness to give to society and to the country have all been eroded to a worrying state.
• The opportunity to isolate the extremists, strengthen the moderates and reach an agreement that would end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict  was not taken to task after the change of leadership following Arafat’s death
• We did not build a collective system that would protect the homefront from the rockets and missiles that could come from Iran and its messengers
• We've still not managed to get Western democracies, particularly Europe, to deal with the Iranian nuclear threat in a decisive manner

Yes, there is much room for pride. The Jewish people do not have a better home than in Israel. However, the things we've not yet achieved,  and the need to correct where the country has failed, show us that we have a lot of work to do until the 70th Independence Day.